ELEANOR PARKER FINE ART

THERE’S a subdued quality to Eleanor Parker’s paintings of the Lowcountry landscape and its marshes, a hushed sense of tonality and moodiness that does not rely on bold color to create an effect. “I am drawn to how the light changes everything around it,” says Parker, who grew up spending time with her grandparents in Mount Pleasant, where she has lived with her husband on Shem Creek for 30 years. “I love to paint skies. Early morning or evening light is my favorite and capturing that in a tonal painting is a means of expressing the quietness of the atmosphere and the calmness that settles over everything. Through that softness, I am bringing the viewer many emotions and evoking memories—a sunset they have seen or an early morning boat ride they have taken. That is the gift of being an artist.”

While she has painted for 20 years, Parker became a professional artist less than a decade ago and has, over the past few years, become more serious about perfecting her skills. To that end, she has taken many workshops with such renowned artists as Scott Christensen, Roger Dale Brown and Larry Moore. As she paints, Parker finds inspiration in the effect of light on the Lowcountry waters and marshlands. As a result, her body of work seems a collection of days spent on the water and along the